* Aidan Antonio stole the show at the Orange County XC Championships
Photo Credit: Raymond Tran/MileSplit California
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While it may have seemed like a slower weekend compared to what we've grown accustomed to, this past weekend of cross country was historic in a couple of different ways, and a great preview of what's to come.
The National Performer of the Week poll will close at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 23, and the winner will be announced shortly after.
Take a look at five of the top-performing boys from this past weekend.
*Athletes cannot be nominated for National Performer of the Week in back-to-back weeks*
This Week's Nominees:
Nathan Lee, Brunswick School (Conn.): The dream senior year just keeps on getting better, this time resulting with a lifetime PB of 14:45.1, also marking his first trip under 15:00 after coming just seconds short of doing so as a junior. At The VA XC Showcase, Lee broke the tape as he led seven boys underneath the barrier, holding on to take the win in the 260+ field.
Aidan Antonio, Woodbridge (Calif.): At this year's edition of the Orange County XC Championships, the junior blew the field out of the water, running 13:56 to win by 14 seconds. Antonio came close to breaking 14:00 at the 44th Annual Woodbridge Classic last month, but stayed patient and took care of business in Silverado. After finishing runner-up a year ago, Antonio is now the champ and one of the best runners in the state.
Daniel Enriquez, Kapaun Mt. Carmel (Kan.): For just the second time in Kansas history, a high schooler has broken 14:40! In his last tune-up before regionals, Enriquez threw down arguably the greatest performance in state history to win the Greater Wichita Athletic League Championships title, clocking 14:35.86. The senior won by 66 seconds and led his squad to a dominant win, and is now the new state record holder.
Nicholas Mazzeo, Lower Merion 01 (Pa.): His eighth-straight top-two finish this season and fourth win was a strong one, as the University of Pennsylvania commit clocked the second fastest time he's run this season, 15:10.3. Mazzeo did so at the 64th Catholic Memorial Invitational, finishing 1-2 with his brother yet again. Mazzeo and the Bulldogs finished runner-up out of 16 teams as well.
Aaron Brodrick, Oconee County (Ga.): The Georgia-based senior broke 15:00 for the second meet in a row, this time running a huge PB of 14:41.39, the eighth-fastest time in Georgia history. Brodrick has won six of his seven race up to this point, and has yet to run slower than 15:30 during that run. He won the North Oconee Invitational with ease, finishing 29 seconds ahead of the field.
NPOTW's Previous Winners:
Week 1: Aaron Brodrick, Oconee County (Ga.)
Week 2: Sean Fries, Minnetonka (Minn.)
Week 3: Brody Anderson, Topeka-Seaman (Kan.)
Week 4: Griffen Saacke, Bridgeland (Texas)
Week 5: Kavi Gibson, Cary Academy (N.C.)
Week 6: Andrew Brown, Tupelo (Miss.)
Week 7: Jackson Free, Mountain Home (Ark.)
Week 8: Cohen Butler, Camas (Wash.)
Week 9: Aidan Antonio, Woodbridge (Calif.)